We often laugh at those “crazy sports parents” that we see in movies or online, but they are sadly based on reality, and when you encounter it for real, or start to drift in that direction, you might need a reminder of what’s truly important and how to navigate the insane climate of youth sports.
I recently read some excellent advice for parents about youth sports from ex-pro baseball pitcher Jacob Turner. He was drafted right out of high school and spent almost 10 years in the MLB, playing for five different teams.
Turner is now a speaker for future NIL (name, image, and likeness) athletes and a father to four kids, navigating youth sports as a parent this time around.
He offers up these five helpful hints so that every family can find balance and maximize their kids’ enjoyment and time being involved in sports.
1 Kids Should Play Multiple Sports
No, Turner doesn’t advise this because some gurus say it increases kids’ athleticism or their chances to play at the college or pro level. He recommends this because kids should have unique experiences like playing on a team and as a solo endeavor, winning and losing in different ways, and learning the strategies of multiple sports.
2 Gauge Their Interest
Turner’s kids are not doing 6 am lessons or endless skills camps over the summer. If they show interest in a sport, he and his wife support them by buying a few tools they can use at home with them. He says that kids who succeed long term in sports have an insane natural curiosity and don’t need to be pushed.
3 Praise the Effort
Turner shares they don’t do participation trophies in their house. He wants his kids to feel failure and to see success. Their family focuses on their kids’ effort (and lessons), and that is the only thing they talk about after a sporting event.
4 Ignore the Propaganda Machine
If you haven’t already experienced it, trust Turner that there are plenty of people, leagues, and organizations that will take your money and promise hope when you have a young athlete. You will hear things like, “Your son/daughter will play at the next level if they work with us.” He says that if your child is that good, you will know (and rarely pay). Today’s culture of youth sports is often fear based and driven by money and FOMO–don’t get sucked in.
5 Focus on the Known
Turner reminds parents that their (and his!) kids have a .000001% of playing pro sports. But properly run youth sports give kids a 100% chance of learning great life lessons, building relationships, and gaining confidence. Youth sports are the ultimate teacher, and his kids play for that reason alone.
Remember, you are not crazy for having a “normal summer” or not putting your kids in specialized lessons when they are six years old. If your child has the God given ability to play professional sports, trust yourself – you will see it.
